Although it may be true that, “It’s hard to be a school that loves old things in a world obsessed with what’s new,” it is certainly true today in a world increasingly captivated by computers, phones and A.I.!
How does a classical school endure in such a world? By continuing to do what it has always done: bringing beauty into the classroom, weaving art into history, literature and Scripture, and bringing every subject to life all in the noble pursuit of cultivating wisdom and virtue.
St. John’s Academy recently continued this tradition by commissioning a beautiful Psalm 23 mural for Mrs. Angelo’s sixth-grade Latin classroom. The mural joins other works of art that enrich learning throughout the school. A Roman scene in the third-grade classroom supports the study of Greece and Rome; the fourth-grade classroom becomes a medieval castle; the fifth-grade classroom features a map of the explorers; and, my personal favorite, an iconic World War II image of Iwo Jima. Together, these works of art bring beauty into the classroom while reinforcing the subjects our students study.
At the dedication of the Psalm 23 mural on Oct. 12, Mrs. Angelo shared the story behind its creation and the inspiration behind its message. Through studying the Latin translation of Psalm 23, she has discovered profound truths. The Latin text, rooted in the Hebrew original, reveals nuances that can be less apparent in the English translation. She shared several of these insights in her remarks.
First, consider the words, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” In Latin, this reads “Dominus regit me,” which literally means “The Lord rules me.” This translation leaves no room for misconceptions about who Jesus truly is. He is the Sovereign Lord over our lives. To Him be praise, honor, and glory!
What peace and confidence this truth brings to those of us who struggle with worry and doubt! He promises to work all things for the good of those who love Him. Knowing that the Sovereign Lord is our personal Shepherd is life-altering. Equally transformative is the deep assurance that we are His little lambs, whom “He carries close to His heart.”
Next, “I shall not be in want.” The Latin reads “et nihil mihi deerit,” which literally means, “Nothing to me shall be lacking.”
Then comes “He makes me to lie down in green pastures.” The Latin, “In loco pascuae ibi me collocavit,” conveys the idea that He places or sets us down in places that are green and rich with abundance.
And then, “He leads me beside still waters.” The Latin reads “Super aquam refectionis educavit me,” which conveys the idea of being led to refreshing waters that restore the soul.
Mrs. Angelo explained that one of the most fascinating aspects of this verse is the Latin word “educavit,” meaning “He leads me.” From this word, we derive the English word education. The Latin verb “educere” means “to lead out,” combining e, meaning “out of,” with “ducere,” meaning “to lead.” What a beautiful picture of education: not merely filling students with information, but leading them toward truth, understanding, wisdom, and virtue.
Mrs. Angelo then shared what she described as the heart of Psalm 23: “For You are with me.” This is the turning point of the Psalm, around which the entire passage revolves — and, in many ways, around which our lives revolve as well.
“For You are with me.” That is the drumbeat of our march, giving us strength for the journey. “For You are with me.”
Mrs. Angelo concluded:
“This is the story of Psalm 23. From our conversion and education to our daily walk in His sanctification until the day of our final redemption.”
Ella Bailey, a recent graduate of Covenant College and a former student of Mrs. Angelo, was commissioned to paint the mural. Ella shared the following reflections on the honor of creating the piece and the process of bringing it to life:
“When Mrs. Angelo asked if I would paint a mural for the school, it was a real honor. It felt like a full-circle moment, and I was so nervous! I had never painted something nearly as big! However, I was excited to jump right in and put my trust in the skill set I had been developing throughout my college career. Thank you, Mrs. Angelo, for trusting me with this and for facilitating so much.
“Once I said yes, I made a very small painting of a meadow and a stream to see if I could capture the feeling of Psalm 23. The question then was how to take something so small and scale it up to an 11-foot-tall and 34-foot-long wall. I knew this tiny painting could help me paint the wall. The task felt daunting, yet possible with a lot of hard work.
“My training did indeed help here, because scale is really about proportion and patience. With the help of some of your sweet students, we were able to roll on the first layer of paint quickly. I used my small painting as a reference for color, light and mood, and then let the wall grow outward from there. I freehanded the main shapes and blocked them in with their respective colors, slowly building up layers to bring the Psalm to life.
“The challenge was keeping the quiet, peaceful feeling of the original while working on something so large. There were definitely days when I would get so absorbed in the mural that I would sometimes forget to eat, take a break or move on from a spot that had already been finished. It felt like I was in another world!
“What I eventually found is that a large mural is really one big task built up from many small tasks done faithfully, one section at a time. In a way, it is a lot like the Psalm itself: being led step by step, trusting that there is good ground ahead, no matter the uncertainty, size, or mistakes.
“I learned so much about my capabilities with this piece, and I hope you all and the students are pleased with it! I hope it will be a great reminder of God’s comforting nature and the beautiful world.”
One of the donors who made this project possible was Andrea Anthony, an original founder of the Academy. She shared these words:
“I am pleased to participate in the ongoing classical education legacy that is St. John’s Academy. The integration of beauty into all aspects of our lives is vital. Our current culture has sacrificed beauty on the altar of efficiency and economy. Thank you for not doing that.”
May it ever be so!
Excelsior — Ever Upward!
— From Sand Castles, October 2026
